Meat Quality: Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed: Even though man has been eating meat for thousands of years, it is often the subject of fierce debate: is it safe for consumption or hazardous for our health? Those against eating meat claim it causes many of the diseases and illnesses that are seen in today’s society, such as cancer and heart disease. Others believe it is healthy and essential for good health.

Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed

Those against meat consumption cite various studies that appear to validate their claims, yet disregard grass-fed vs grain-fed:

Increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A study in the JAMA Internal medicine claims an increase in red meat consumption increases a person’s risk of having type 2 diabetes.1

Cardiovascular disease. A study in Nature Medicine, a nature research journal, found that the bacteria found in meat and eggs increased person’s risk of hardened arteries, strokes, heart attacks and death.2

Colon cancer. Individuals with a genetic predisposition to colon cancer are believed to have an increased risk of getting the disease if they eat red meat.

While these all appear to be valid reasons to avoid eating meat factory farmed meats, these studies neglect to mention one important point:

Many health issues pertaining to meat consumption are due to how cattle are treated and what they eat. Meat Quality matters. Grass-fed vs grain-fed matters. We are what we eat, eats. Let me repeat: We are what we eat, eats.

Poor Meat Quality

Humans been eating meat since the dawn of time. Native Americans, for example, primarily consumed buffalo during the winter months because it was too cold to grow and cultivate crops. They had no choice but to eat meat during the freezing winter months. If they didn’t eat meat, they starved. This was true of most cold-weather societies around the world.

It’s important to note these meat eaters did not experience the countless health issues seen today. The question that must be asked is why?

Even though cows are designed to eat grass, farm-raised cattle of today are fed grains. This affects our health in several ways:

Grass-fed vs. grain fed cattle. Grains have high concentrations of glyphosate in the form of GMO Roundup-ready corn and soy feed. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer recently concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”3

Glyphosate is believed to cause leaky gut, which is often described as “holes” in the intestines that allow undigested proteins to leak out. When this occurs, the immune system begins to overreact, which increases a person’s risk of developing food allergies.4

Glyphosate has been linked to autism, cancer, and many autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, gluten intolerance, and Crohn’s disease.5

Glyphosate is not included in the U.S. government’s testing of food for pesticide, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers glyphosate safe. However, the UN’s International Agency for Research on Cancer released a statement in 2015 saying glyphosate “probably raises the risk of cancer in people exposed.”6

In a few studies where cows were inoculated with E. coli, grain fed cows “favored the growth of acid resistant generic E.coli,” which could be passed onto humans.7

Poor meat quality: Cows fed grains that have been sprayed with glyphosate and other chemicals are often given antibiotics to help strengthen their immune systems. As a result, the milk has high levels of antibiotics as well as chemicals from the grains they’ve consumed, which is often passed on to humans as well.

Grains can accumulate in an animal’s intestines because they lack the enzymes to digest it. As a result, they may develop Clostridium perfringens, a bacteria linked to sudden death in cattle.8

Grass-fed vs Grain-fed: Grain-fed cattle are on low-fat diets, which can lead to ulcers, acid buildup, and abscesses in the liver.8

The Health Benefits of Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed Meat

While many assume there are no differences between grass-fed vs grain-fed cattle, many studies say otherwise:

Findings suggest cows fed a grass-based diet “elevate precursors for Vitamin A and E, as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants such as glutathione (GT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as compared to grain-fed contemporaries.”9

High nutritional value. Meat is an excellent source of the following nutrients: iron, protein, and B12. Other benefits of consuming meat include the following:

Aids in muscle repair. Meat contains high levels of zinc, which aids in muscle repair.

Higher amounts of omega-3’s. When comparing grain fed and grass-fed vs grain fed, grass-fed varieties may have 4 times more omega-3 linoleic acid and 66% less omega-6 linoleic acid.

Grass-fed vs Grain-fed: Higher omega-3’s are important for several reasons:

The average American diet consumes too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3. In addition to grain fed beef, corn oil and vegetable oils are also high in omega-6. Omega-3 and omega-6 are two essential fatty acids needed to maintain good health. However, too much omega-6 has been linked to the following health issues:

High blood pressure

Increased risk of blood clots

Water retention

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial for cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers.10 Even though man has been eating meat safely for centuries, people have been urged to stop eating it altogether in an attempt to maintain good health. However, studies indicate it’s not the meat that is the problem: the grains cows are fed and glyphosate are the probable source of health issues.

The Verdict.

Studies indicate eating grain-fed cattle can be hazardous to a person’s health, not grass fed. Grass-fed beef has a completely different nutritional profile. However, by avoiding grain-fed beef and eating grass-fed varieties instead, a person can decrease their likelihood of becoming ill and maintain good health.

Treats on the Go for Littles!

Have you ever been stuck somewhere without a nutrient-dense snack option in sight? I have. I travel constantly to meet with doctors around the globe and to speak at seminars and educate practitioner. Airports are the WORST to find quality food. But, in all honesty, almost everywhere outside of my kitchen is tricky terrain. When it comes to finding sugar-free and additive-free snacks, there aren’t many options out there. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are TONS of new snacks on the market today, it’s just that the overwhelming majority don’t meet my stringent criteria…

Grass-fed vs Grain-fed: The reason I fell in love with these Paleo Valley beef sticks (and their Turkey sticks too!) is for a few reasons. They’re made of 100% grass fed & grass finished beef (aka no grains EVER!). The cows are raised responsibly using rotational grazing practices and are never given antibiotics, hormones or steroids.

Quality Matters!

Gluten free

Soy-free

Dairy-free

Sugar-free

No artificial nitrites & nitrates

Non-GMO

The absolute BEST part? Paleovalley beef sticks are naturally fermented using old-world methods.

This makes them shelf stable without the use of chemicals, and it causes each stick tobe loaded with gut-healthy probiotics! On top of enjoying a super healthy (and easy) high-protein snack, you also reap all the benefits of grass-fed beef in every stick:

Reader Interactions

Comments

Finally someone makes the all-important distinctions that you did, something long overdue. I doubt, however, that such rational thinking will dissuade some “anti-meat” folks from their trashing of meat, even though many of those same people WILL make this distinction when it comes to fruits, vegetables, et al.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Daniel Pompa, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as noted. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Pompa and his associates. Dr. Pompa encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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Dr. Pompa does not practice conventional medicine. More specifically, he does not examine, diagnose or treat, or offer to treat or cure or attempt to cure, any mental or physical disease, disorder or illness, or any physical deformity or injury; and Dr. Pompa does not recommend or prescribe, or recommend changing dosage or discontinuing, any prescription medications or pharmaceutical drugs.

Dr. Pompa has retired from chiropractic in order to more effectively pursue his dream of world health.